Press



Jan. 31, 1928 15657539 J. c. LEDBETTER PRESS Filed May 2, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l w/Pal ATTORNEYS Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,539

J. c. LEDBETTER PRESS Filed May 2, 1925 sA sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR I -irl MMM/'f "f ATTORNEY utente el f l, l28o @RMD LEDBETTER, 0h NEW E'IRK, lll. Y., AlSilf-illtllls T0 THE IPRPEEEEZ" .l OMPANY, ZINC., 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPEATXQN 0F NEW YURE.

.espinasse aise nay iii/iosa. sensi in. anni.

llhis invention relates to garment press ing machinery and an object is to produce a press which opens and closes by gravity and the press is worked by any suitable operati ing means, such for eiiainple as motor means.

nanother object oil the invention is to produce an improved press which opens, closes, and presses by power 'thereby entirely eliminating undue manualeiiort on the part oi" the operator.

A ilurther object oi the invention is to produce a sate pressing machine' to the en tent that the operator is compelled to employ both hands to control the ress and yto thisA end the operator necessari y, in using both hands to manipulate the press, is restrained 'lr-om accidentally getting his hands between the pressing jaws because ci the tact that his hands are employed at a point distant to the closing jaws. Y

llnr pressing machines 4olE thisl type it is necessary that the jaws open through a wide movement to expose the lower pressing jaw member, in order to obtain entendent visi` bility ol the work and to permit the operator to have sucient room to work. This requirement ol wide opening Jaws means that some part ol the press, as for example l the press lever, must move through a long distance of travel. llt is undesirable because oil waste oi energy to provide a long strolre motive power means as for example a steam motor so it becomes desirable to operate the press through a long distance oi travel by a wer unit having a short stroke. To full these conditions an improved disconnecting device is employed to connect and disconnect the power unit with the press lever at the proper period of operation and this is one of the features of the invention.,

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred form of the invention serving to disclose the construction, principle, and inode ol operation thereof and ordinary changes may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

Fi ure 1 shows a side view of the press in close position under pressure of the fluid power unit and the fragmentary dotted line parts illustrate the press lever inv uplifted position to raise the press head. This'view is a partial sectional view taken on the Line y valves 20 and 24 are equipped with control Figure 2 illustrates a side fragmentary view ci the press showing the press lever open or up in full line position and closed or down in dotted line position but without pressure being applied thereto.

`Figure 3 illustrates a rear view oil the press in closed position underpressure,

Referring now more particularly to the drawings gior a further description olf the invention, there is shown a pressing machine frame v1l) which usually supports a necl pressing member as a buch or jaw 11. A press head or jaw 12 is adapted to be raised and lowered through ya long distance oi travel in relation to the lower jaw 11 and the pressing jaws are suitably heated by any appropriate ineens, steam generally being used as is well linown. A press lever is pivoted at le on the 'trame 10 and the rear end ci this lever is preferably turned down wardly in a vertical plane to work in close relation to the traine and the lever is provided on the lower end with a thrust pad i5 against which a power device coacts to produce high tinal pressure. A suitable tluid pressure mot/or, or a diaphragm or sylphon duid actuated motor 17 is mounted on the Jtraine and may be enclosed by a casing 18. The sylphon or diaphragm 17 is adapted to contract and expand under the induence oi uid pressure as steam injected thereinto and exhausted therefrom. The lower end of the sylphon connects with a lsteani su ply pipe line 19 which conveys steam to the power unit and exhausts its therefrom. A three-way valve 20 connects the pipe 19 with a steam supply pipe 21 which is adapted to beconnected with a boiler to feed to the sylphon and an exhaust pipe 22 also connects with the three-way valve 20. f One position of the three-way valve 20 admits steam from the pipe 2l and boiler into the pipe 19 to eX and the sylphon while another position of t e valve, 20 closes the pipe 21 and simultaneously connects pipes 22 and 19 in order that the steam be exhausted from the syl hon out through the pipe 22 at the end of t e pressing operation.

In orderto render thel operation of the pressperfectly safe, another steam valve 24 is included in the pipe 21 and merely provides a cut-olf in the pipe 21 between the boiler andthe three-way valve 20. Both [lll rods which connect with manual control handles 26 and 27. It is to be observed that the operator must necessarily operate both handles 26 and 27 to gain com lete control of the admission and exhaust ci) steam to and from the sylphon. The two handles 26 and 27 are spread apart a suitable distance in order that the operator cannot possibly work both handles with one hand and so he is compelled to grasp one handle with one hand and the otherhandle with the other hand. When the operator desires to expand the sylphon 17, he grasps both handles 26 and 27 and opens both valves 20, and 24 which are held normally closed by means not shown, so that steam flows into the sylphon to close the press and produce pr sure At the end ot the pressing operation the operator similarly grasps both handles 26 and 27 to close the valve 24 whereby the flow ot steam is stopped from the boiler and to Vreset the valve 2O in order that the exhaust pipe 22 be brought in communication to the pipe 19 thereby permitting the steam under pressure to exhaust to atmosphere or to a condenser. Any suitable spring closed valves 20 and 24 may bc use The sylphon is equipped with a plunger rod 29 which carries a connecting rod 30 which pivotally connects at 31 with a crank shaft cam or abutment device 32. The crank cam device 32 is anchored or keyed on the shaft 33 which is in turn journaled in bearings 34'on the frame or legs 10 of the press. The reciprocating motion of the plunger 29 Qserv-es to rotate the cam 32 and shaft 33 through a limited degree of movement. The cam 32 operates similarly to a crank shaft since its function is to translate motion to the press lever 13 and this crank cam 32 is made with an abutment shoulder 35 which coacts with the lower end 15 of the press lever 13 to exert ressure rearwardlyr on the lever after the head 12 is closed upon the buck 11. The thrust of the abutment shoulder 35 against theV lower end of the press lever is limited to that period of time which ensues after the press head has closed because prior to that time, the said lower end 15 of the press lever swings entirely clear and free of the cam crank shaft device 32. When the sylphon is collapsed or contracted, the connecting rod acts to rotate the part 32 clockwise'thereby withdrawing the abutment shoulder from the path of the swinging press lever end 15.

A bell crank comprising arms 38 and 39 is fixed on the shaft 33 and swings as the shaft is turned by the motor means 17. The upper end of the bell crank 38 is itted with a lug or roller adapted to swing in relation to and in alignment with the lower endv of the press lever 13 while the other arm 39 of the bell crank carries a counter balance welght 41 which may be adjusted back and forth on the arm 39 to balance the head 12 for this weight is provided for that purpose as will be described.

Assuming that as in Figure l the work suoli as a garment between the head and buck is completely pressed and that the press is ready to be opened, the operator now actuatcs both handles 26 and 27 to exhaust steam trom the sylphon 17 to permit it to collapse or contract. This action serves to rotate clockwise the cam crank shaft 32 which removes the abutmentshoulder 35 of the cam away from the lever 13 as shown in dotted-line position in Figure 2. It follows that the shaft 33 is rotated clockwise which permits the weight 41 to gravitate downwardly thereby hastening a quick exhaust of steam from the steam motor means which simultaneously brings the lug 40 into contact with the rear edge of the press lever 13 whereupon thc weight 41 is pressed against the lever 13 to quickly lift the head 12 and hold it in uplifted position under power of the weight 41 as noted in dotted lines in Figure 1 and in Jfull line position in Figure 2.

With the head up as just described, the pressing operation is now carried out by spreading the work upon the lower jaw or buck 11 whereupon the operator actuates both handles 26 and 27 to expand the s lphon which begins to lift the weight 41 w iicli 1n turn permits the arm 38 to swing counterclockwise thereby retracting the lug 40 from the press lever 13 and the weight of the heavy head 12 immediately gravitates down wardly as fast as the lug 40 moves counterclockwise. Thus a short expansional movement of the sylphon permits the head 12 to travel through a long distance from high lifted position to contacting position onthe buck 11. The lower end of the press lever swings rearwardly past the cam shoulder 35 before the shoulder reaches a position 1n alignment with the press lever.

The considerable weight of the head 12 is .imposedupon the work on the buck 1l prior to the inception of the power pressing movement because 'of the fact that noy long travel to open and close the press, to-

gether with operating means such as the motor means shown having a short stroke or travel, it being desirable to employ a short movement motor means in order that the latter be economical" to operate and be simple in construction. The intermediate means or power connecting and disconnecting deof the press lever to open the press by action of the counterweght; operating means to swine the bell crank and lift the counter weight against gravity to allow the press rying lever pivoted in the Jlrame with one' end thereof adapted to move against the press lever, an weight on the other end of the weight carryin lever which causes the press to open when tb e opposite end thereof moves against the press level` as aforesaid, motor means directly connected with the weight carrying lever to lift and move it away from the press lever in order that the press may close by gravity, means connected with the motor means and operable thereby by which the motor is disconnected from the' press lever during the press closing gravity operating period, and a device on the last named means by which it connects with the press lever after the press closes to produce final pressure. I Y

ln testimony whereof l aflix my signature.

JAMES CAMROD .LEDBETlER 

